A friend was working on multiple startups and felt pressure to focus on only one. He asked me which projects should he kill, and which one should he run with. It was too early to know which one was most promising. My answer shocked him. I told him he should do them all; that he …
Are you building a business with substance? Or are you focused on making quick, easy money? I set out to create sustainable organizations that are built to last. Sustainable organizations have substance. By building the machine the right way – with great people; real values, principles, products and processes – you create more long-term wealth …
Be predictable. Inconsistent and volatile leaders are difficult to follow. I’ve found that predictable leaders get the most out of their people. Predictability is an undervalued leadership trait. When employees don’t have to manage their boss (or their boss’s mood swings), or worry about them getting in the way, or constantly have to justify their …
It’s the things we do consistently throughout our lives that define us. Small, incremental efforts over long periods of time are much more meaningful than large, significant efforts sustained for only a short time. When we see someone who is successful, we rarely give them credit for their preparation to get to where they are. …
Business plans are a waste of time. Life is more dynamic than a business plan suggests. I love the proverb that says, “The work will teach you how to do it.” Learn as you go. Experiment constantly. Be nimble and flexible. Stop overthinking and start acting. I’ve never created a business plan in any of …
Do you feel like people don’t understand the method to your madness? This 1957 Synergy Map from Walt Disney (published in the Wall Street Journey in 1958) shows the complexity of the Disney operations. Look how the various parts work in harmony to create a sustainable growth engine. 60+ years later, the machine is still …
Why create artificial timelines on your entrepreneurial journey? If you want a life of continual growth and fulfillment – here’s a good place to start: Give yourself some time to get to where you want to go. When I was in college, I created a rough timeline for myself…. My 20’s and 30’s would be …
It was the summer of 2009. I was turned down for a promotion with my peers in my first job after college. I was devastated. I lost motivation. I counted down the minutes until I could leave each day. It was miserable. I knew I didn’t want to work for someone else. I wanted to …
Cash flow, cash reserves, and profitability have never been as important as they are today. Our society has been enamored by venture-backed companies that focus almost exclusively on revenue growth. That means some businesses are being exposed like never before. Even though everyone knew the good times couldn’t go on forever, many business owners still …
Building a business requires constant experimentation. Now is a time for taking small bets (thanks Josh Steimle), even during this uncertainty. I’m using the next few weeks and months to do little experiments across our companies; the same strategy we’ve used to build our businesses from the beginning. When something works, we do more of …
Everything good in my life, both professionally and personally, has come in collaboration with partners. I’ve spent my entire life learning to be a good partner, and proving out a unique partnership model.
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